Sewing machine preference - call me nuts...but
 

Well, I have come to the conclusion, that I love my mechanical Viking Emerald 118 over my Janome Horizon 12000 when it comes to piecing quilts. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my 12000 when it comes to quilting and embroidering but that's where the love ends. The viking seems to sew better ....it can take a beating and never seems to miss a stitch. Is it me or do others have a preference for a non computerized machine? Do you "feel" a difference when sewing? If not then call me nuts. Lol

I feel a difference, but my experience went the opposite way. I had an older mechanical Janome and recently got a newer computerized one. The newer one is so much more powerful and accurate, it makes it a joy to sew. Go figure!

They are different brands as well, and very likely made in different countries. Not to confuse the issue, of course. :)

hugs,
Charlotte

I love my old mechanical machine for piecing as well. My computerized machine has it its upside , on certain tasks... but if I had to have only one of the two.... it would be a tough choice.

I LOVE my Juki for piecing, it's just a straight stitch, I save my "fancy" machines for applique or regular sewing and I almost never "sew" on the embroidery machines, I just keep them set up for embroidery...One reason I like the Juki is it's fast...glad the quilt police don't give speeding tickets, I'd be in big trouble...LOL

While I love my Bernina for quilting and heirloom sewing, I do all of my piecing on my Featherweight.

I had a Bernina 185, not high end at all and I loved it except for the throat space. Never a problem with the tension, could use any kind of thread, not picky about what needle is used. Now I have the Bernina 820. It's definitely a computer! And it can be finicky. Recently when I went to CO to visit my daughter, I got a chance to re-acquaint myself with my old machine for some piecing. Turns out I missed the features on the 820 more.

I think my workhorse 1973 vintage Kenmore machine does a better straight stitch with thicker threads like Essentials, Signature, and some of the variegated than my newer Brother electronic sewing/embroidery machine. But the Brother does better with thinner threads like Aurifil. Just the machine's personality I guess.

I have Vikings and love them all, that's why I still have 4. Can't decide which to get rid of. But I will say that I love my newest 960Q for everything. I have the Lily set up to do some straight stitching and bobbin winding because it winds bobbins better than the 960Q.

You are not crazy. Sewing machines are one of the areas where I truly believe they "don't make em like they used to!" Use your mechanical machine and have fun!

I have a Viking computerized machine, but I prefer Singer 401a, for my piecing. For quilting, I use my Pfaff Hobby Quilter (non computerized) with my Handi-quilter frame.

I have two houses, two Viking 6460s (mid 1970's era) and two Featherweights. I love my Vikings. One I have had since it was new and the other I bought from a friend who had it since it was new. Problem is that I can no longer get parts for them so if something breaks it is touch and go whether the sewing center has or can get a part from a dead machine. Recently the foot pedal on the Viking I got from a friend is getting hot when I sew. After talking to several service people, doing lots of research on the internet over the problem I have reluctantly decided to make that my back up machine and I got a new electronic machine - Janome. The feature I like the most on that is the needle down. It is a good machine but I don't feel the attachment to it that I have for my other machines. Maybe it will come with time. I have done quilting and piecing on the new machine and really prefer the Viking for quilting and the Featherweight for piecing. Time will tell I suppose. There is something to be said for the older machines. They are just so solid.

Yes, for just plain old piecing, I love my 1929 singer featherweight. It sews like a charm and so quiet.

Know what you mean, but I love them all. I say I love my Singer 403 best, but then I love my Singer 15, but then ...it just goes on and on. I couldn't choose just one.

I have about ten machines (most of those, vintage) and not one is computerized. I just love a mechanical machine. My main quilter is my Juki TL2010Q purchased about a year and a half ago, and even it is mechanical and not computerized. I don't care for machine embroidery so I don't see as I'm missing anything. When I need zig zag and a few fancy stitches, I have my 1970's Bernina Record 830 and my Singer 403 with all of it's cams!

Well I started piecing on my cheap brother sq9050 and i love my. Dreamy for all it does but the straight stitch on my sq is better. I think the more machines do sometimes it reduces the precision of certain things. Like dreamy handles layers better than my sq. I think each machine has their pro's and cons.

All I own are vintage mechanical machines. I prefer a straight stitch only machine over my zigzag and decorative stitch machines for piecing. A good straight stitch machine is just so quiet and smooth running compared to others. Right now the Japanese made Singer 15 clone in my avatar is my go-to machine. Before that was my 1948 Singer model 66.
My daughter had her second 4H meeting this Thursday. It was the first actual sewing session for her club. I watched for part of it. Out of the 5 machines there the only machine I saw that was as quiet and smooth as my daughter's old Montgomery Wards zigzag machine was a new Bernina Bernette. The Wards machine isn't the quietest machine we own either.
I think you have to buy a very good brand of new machine to match the performance of older machines.
Rodney

Same problem with my old Viking and the foot feet getting hot. Part that was broken was obsolete. Got a Viking 118 and so far, have enjoyed using it. This machine I use for piecing and my Bernia I use for the fancier stuff.

I own a Janome 1600P, which does straight stitch only, and is a workhorse; I also own a Janome 7700 (Horizon) with lots of fancy stitches, and it's great for fancy sewing and embellishments. I use either one for free motion quilting.

So funny that you say that. My favorite machine to piece on is a Singer 301 from the 50s and my Janomes and Viking just sit!

I have read that the old machines that sew straight stitch ONLY actually make the best stitches. Even though the zigzag machines sew straight stitches too, they still have a very slight zig to them and are not as perfect as the old machines make.

I am a vintage sewing machine person. I really like my old black Singer 15-91, my Singer 201 and the Singer 301. I do have two computerized machines and use them also but much prefer the vintage machines.

Well I'm glad you said that. I feel the same way about my Singer 301A and my newer, fancier sewing machine. I love both of them, but the older one is my favorite for simple straight stitching.

I do most of my piecing on a babylock quilters choice pro-straight stitch only---I have 2 fancy machines and love them but for piecing I love my straight stitch only machine.

I have sewed on the older machines and I liked the stitches really well. But the problem for me was they were always messing up somehow. My Bernina Aurora is a dream to sew on and I will eventually get rid of all others. I know that many of the vintage sewing machine owners say their Singer 15-91 are perfect to piece on. I have one and used it but it still messed up too often for me. I have had my Bernina in the shop just once in 9 years and that was a minor issue.

I have a Juki TL98QE and Babylock Jane, Straight stitch only machines. I love them both, I use them for piecing and FMQ,

I don't think you're crazy, but I went through several machines made in the 1970s that I would not go back to for love nor money. Give me a pre-1950 or a modern computerized machine any day!

I don't have any mechanical machines anymore but I do all my regular sewing, piecing on my 14 year old Viking Designer 1. Even though its a embroidery machine too I love how it stitches when doing regular sewing. Have a Babylock for my embroidery stuff. I keep looking at the new machines out there but the prices just make me turn away from them. I remember when I bought these machines how I thought the prices were outrageous but now they're starting to cost as much as a small car..........OUCH!!!!! Sure wish I kept my little Featherweight now.

I really like Brother machines. I have three generations; mechanical, computerized CS6000i and the Innovis 1250D with embroidery capability. I was happily sewing along with my family of Brothers when I found a Koala cabinet with raise/lower inset on Craigs List. Along with cabinet there was a Bernina Virtuosa 153 Quilters Edition and Bernina Serger for $1,000. I bought all three items. I now what the all the fuss is about Bernina. It "feels" so different from any of the Brothers. I think there's a lot more metal in the Bernina and, unlike the drop-in bobbin on the Brothers, this is a side-insert bobbin and it NEVER, NEVER skips a stitch. I like the Brother machines and they are excellent values, but all of them have given me fits over the years with their "touchy" bobbin issues. I love the Bernina for the beautiful, reliable, consistent stitches. The quality of the stitching is felt and seen as the machine hums along. I keep the walking foot on the Bernina with wonderful results. I would trade all my machines, including the Bernina Virtuoso, for just one Bernina with a stitch regulator!

When I had the Pfaff, I used to use my FW all the time for piecing. Since I got my Janome 8900 QCP I have been using it exclusively. However, my FW is still my class and traveling machine of choice.

I still do my primary piecing on my 1958 Singer 401A and I still love that old tank! Has been "in hospital" only once, last year, when I turned it upside down accidentally.

I have several old Singers and a FW. I use my Viking Designer I for sewing and piecing and my Viking Ruby for embroidering. My FW has become my traveling machine. They all sew very good and I don't have issues with any of them.

I have a mechanical Bernina that I use for my quilting...wonderful stitching..I use my computerized machines for piecing

Ditto to this - - I have a Bernina 440 QE that I love but I honestly use my 1950 Singer Featherweight more because I prefer that for piecing.......

I grew up sewing on a machine from the 50's (my grandmother's Pfaff 332-260) and that thing sure was a tank.

But I'm still pretty young and maybe that makes the difference....I love my modern, computerized sewing machines. Needle up/down button, settable default needle position, scissor cut button!?!? Oh yeah baby!!

I still love the looks of the older machines though, and if I could get my hands on my grandmother's machine I would definitely thread the old darling up and use her just for sentiment's sake. And some day I think I'm going to have to buy a Singer Slant-o-matic, just because I am absolutely enamored with how that machine looks. Today's machines have awesome features but compared to those vintage machines they don't have much style! (With some notable exceptions, of course.)

I feel the same way about cars, actually. My car is a modern miracle with every technological doo-dad I could add to it (and I actually USE those doo-dads too) and I love my car, but those glorious old Buicks and Packards and Chevys and Fords sure do turn my head. I kinda want one, but I'm also awfully fond of airbags and GPS.

I love the stitches that I get with my Elna Supra (vintage 1972) but I am spoiled with the needle up/down and thread cutter of my Janome 7700. I an looking covetously at the Janome 8900. Just may be able to swing it as a moving expense since we are downsizing -- what do you folks think?

I have 2 Pfaff computerized machines and I love them both. I use them for sewing and quilting. I use a mechanical machine at work and believe me, I prefer the computerized ones.

I love my Janome Horizon 8200, it's a dream to sew everything on, until recently when my thread breaks with FMQ, perfect for everything else still, go figure.. have to bite the bullet and take it in for a service I think, I shall go through withdrawals as I only have a tiny brother otherwise. Ok for simple sewing but no good for anything else.

Your older machine does not have a way to stop with the needle all the way up so you have to be the one to make sure the thread take up lever is all the way to the top when you take fabric out of the machine. If the needle is up but the take up lever is not all the way up you will have tangles. It is a user problem not the machine.

I sold my Janome and have been using all mechanical machines ever since. My sewing improved and I am happier. Has anybody else noticed that you have a lot of neck fatigue when you sew on some machines? I like the Singer 403 and the Singer 15 (or a Singer 15 clone) because I don't get neck fatigue - I think it is because I can see what I am doing so much better on those machines.